Research: Bivalent COVID-19 Boosters Offer Superior Protection Against Long-Term Complications
 | By Sanjay Devaraja, Editor, LKCMedicine's Redefine Newsletter |
A study by Assistant Professor Lim Jue Tao and his team has proven that the newer bivalent COVID-19 booster shots, designed to protect against both the original virus and newer Omicron variants, work better than the older boosters at preventing long-term health problems after a COVID-19 infection.
According to Asst Prof Lim, whose research revolves around infectious disease modelling at LKCMedicine, these insights are crucial for guiding future vaccination policies and ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the most effective protection available against both current and emerging variants of the virus.
A large study followed over a million adults who were affected by COVID-19 during the Omicron wave, up to the end of 2023. It found that people who received the bivalent booster were much less likely to develop lasting health issues after getting sick. In fact, their risk of having new problems after COVID-19 infection was 38% lower than for people who only received the older booster.
The benefits were seen in several areas. People with the bivalent booster were less likely to develop nerve problems, movement issues, and certain immune system conditions. These benefits lasted for at least a year after infection. This means that the bivalent booster not only helps prevent severe illness from COVID-19, but also lowers the chance of getting “long COVID.”
Even though fewer people received the bivalent booster compared to the older one, the group with the bivalent booster still had fewer long-term health problems. This suggests that using the bivalent booster more widely could help even more people.
This information is especially important now, since Omicron and similar variants are still the main types of COVID-19 spreading around the world and in Singapore in 2025. Updated vaccines are needed because protection from earlier shots fades over time, and new variants keep emerging. The study shows that getting regular booster shots with updated vaccines is important to protect not just against severe illness, but also against long-lasting health problems.
Some people worry about vaccine safety, but the side effects from the bivalent booster have been mild to moderate, similar to the older vaccines. The benefits of getting the bivalent booster, especially the lower risk of both short- and long-term problems, are much greater than the risks for most people. Ongoing safety checks are important, but current evidence supports using these updated boosters, especially for older adults, people with health problems, and those living in care homes.
The bivalent COVID-19 boosters clearly help prevent serious health problems after infection. Stressing on the importance of this, Asst Prof Lim said, "Our research shows that the bivalent COVID-19 booster not only reduces the risk of severe illness, but also significantly lowers the chance of developing long-term health problems after infection. As the virus continues to evolve, staying up to date with updated vaccines is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves and our communities."